Coupling-controlling mechanism



Dec. 26, 1922.

' E. GEORGE. JR.

CouPLme Cou'rRoLuNc Mecmm su.

2 snee'rs'snesr l FILED MAY 3, 192| Dec. 26, 1922. 1,439,731

E. GEORGE. JR.

CouPLlNs CoNTRoLLINc MEcHANlsM. l

FILED MAY 3. |921. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2 3 nuentoz iwf/76.5.5

Patented Dee., 25, i922,

l] NITE@ dl-lt Tlil d raten orties.

@NOCH GEORGE, JR., OF PTTSBURGH, PENNSVIVLNA, P:.SSGNOR TO THE lKCCNVAY @a TORLEY COMPANY, 0F ETTSBURG-H, ENNSYLVANIA, A COLPOMATON GF PENN- SYLVANIA.

Application filed May 3, 1921.

To all 'whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, ENooH Geenen, Jr., a citizen ot the United States. residing at Pittsburgh, inthe county of lillegheny and State ot Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Coupling- Controlling Mechanism; and l do hereby declarethe following to be a tull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will ena-ble others skilled in the art to which it appertains to maire and use the same.

My invention relates to coupler controlling mechanism especially well suited to ai'- tord simple and reliable means tor actuating the locking device ot a lli-type coupler when the latter is so mounted upon a railway car as to he capable of swi j' with respect thereto. ln adapting the lilaster Car Builders7 standard D coupler to use upon passenger train cars considerable difficulty has been experienced in attempting to proride ring device for the coupler which could be employed in conjunction with a simple form ot mechanism tor actuating'the coupler lock to move it to an unlocked position and to operate the knuckle opening device. Both of these desirable results are accomplished in a mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention. The principal feature ot the invention, generally stated, consists in the combination with a carry-iron whichr is adapted to be mounted upon a railway car, ot mechanism tor actuating the lock ot a laterally swinging car coupler, and means movably connected to the carry-iron and extending downwardly therefrom to provide a support for the actuating mechanism ot the coupler locli ot a character permit-ting said mechanism to angle transv rsely of the car in response to the swinging movements of the coupler and also to slide with respect to its said supporting means when the coupler moves lengthwise et the car in draft or iny buiiing.

Another and more specific feature of the invention consists in interposing between a carry-iron and a coupler saddle slidably mounted thereon resilient means for yieldingly resisting the movements ot the saddle from normal position and in providing COPLENGFGONTRLLXNG MECHANISM.

Serial No. 466,454.

means movable with the saddlevand eXtending downwardly below said resilient means and said carry-iron tor affording support to mechanism for actuating the lock ot a laterally swinging car coupler, the saddle being adapted to be engaged by the shank ot the car coupler and moved thereby transversely ot the car and the mechanism for 'actuating the coupler lock including a bar which extends under the carry-iron and is movable with the coupler both longitudinally and transversely of the car.

Thereare other features ot the invention residing in particular combinations of parts and in details of elemental construction all as will hereinafter appear.

ln the drawings illustrating the preferred 'form in which l contemplate applying the invention, t-he scope whereof is pointed out in the claims,-

' l is a tli Y shank et the laterally swinging coupler and portions oi the uncoupling rods which eX- tend toward the sides of the car being broken Figure 2 is a view, partly in side elevation and partly in vertical section, ot the mechanism illustrated in Fig. l.

F ture 3 is a sectionalview on the line Fig. l, a portion of the coupler saddle and ot the yielding means by which the coupler is normally .maintained in centralized position being in vertical section.

' Figure 4- is a detail sectional view on the line l-l, Fig. 2.

Figure 5 is a detail sectional view on the line 5-5, Fig. 2.

Figure 6 is a detail perspeftire view ot a inodilied form of means for relieving. the saddle of wear incident to the dratt and birding movements ot the coupler.

ln the drawings, l indi"ates a car coupler which is adapted to be pivotally mounted upon a railway car so as to be capable ot swinginglaterally with respect thereto. To enable it to have such swinging` movement the shank of the coupler may be provided near its rear end with an opening Q which is adapted to receive a tail pin (not shown) by which the coupler may be pivotally connected to the draft rigging` in a well known marmer. The coupler illustrated is of. the

.iainiliar lll-type and the outward rotation o1? i itsiiluiiclrle 3 is controlled by the lochr el.

Rigidlyi mounted upon the ear, by be- '.ing secured to the center sills 5 thereof, is a coupler carry-iron 6. "The icarry-iron is preferably provided with vertically spaced bars 7 ai'li'ording between them a horizontal-ly i' opening recess 8 Which extends transversely of the car and is adapted to receive yielding means for normally retaining the vcoupler 1 1n central position.

of relatively movable springboxes 9 which -normally bear at their outer or ,closed ends against stationary abutinents 10 forming v connections k.between the spaced: bars 7 of the carry-iron. Operatively interposed between fthe spring boxes and `arranged' side by sidev in the vsaine horizontal plane are a pair of parallel: springs 11 which yieldingly maintain the s rin boxes Quin their positon of P j g greatestseparation, Toprevent over coini pression of thesprmgs and theiry consequent damage each spring inaywhaife 'inserted Within 1t a stop rod or errule 12 yivliieliyby coming in''contact with the closed ends of the spring boxes 9, limits the extent of coinpression of the springs. ln order that the rspring boxes .may be caused to approach and thereby elect a vcompression ot the springs 11 whenjthe coupler 1 is displaced laterally in eitheil direction troni its normal position.

'each spring box-9 is provide-dj adjacent its .openend with oppositely disposed lugs or tlanges13 which project outwardly through the sideso the recess 8 beyond the vertical faces of the spaced portions of the carry iron. The' flanges 13 are adapted to be engaged by corresponding flanges or shoulders 141 which are `-termed uponA horizontally spaced Idownwardly extending portions l5 ofthe Acoupler saddle and between which 'the l bars "l" ot' the carry-iron extend.

p By this means When the coupler saddle 16 is shifted in. either directiontransversely of the ifa-r l i from its normal posit-ion one or the other 4plexi" to change its angular relationto the oit' the spring boxes 9 is correspondingly moved while the other. spring `bei; remains seated 'upon its abutn-ient l0. such relative n'ioy'eli'ient or' the spring boxes resulting in coin 3ro-seing the springs l l The subsequent expansion-'ef the lsnif-ings enforces the return of the coupler-"l to no al posit-ion.

- The saddle 'I6nl which is slidably mounted upon the carry-iron, is jiirovided with upwardly extending ariiis il' which area-dapled to lengagvre the opposite sides olf 'the shank ol the coupler 1. The inner faces oi the ariiis 17 may be rounded so as to permit the cousaddle f and thus prevent any substantial binding ofthe latter `upon the carry-iron during the swingingmovements of the coupier, To relieve the saddle Y16 ltrein.. Wear The yielding LmeansV preferably employed consist of a plurality dueto longitudinal movements of the coupler it is preferred to interpose Va plurality ot transversely extending rollers 13 between said saddle and the under side ot the coupler shank. Y These rollers may be conveniently associated with the coupler saddle byI pro-V vidingthe inner faces oi? the coupler engaging arms 17 With vertically extending grooves 19 which are open at their upper endsandwliicb are adapted to vreceive the journal ends 2O of the rollers.

'The horizontally spaced downwardly ex tending portions 15 of the coupler saddle which stra-ddle the carry-iron overlap the vertical sides of the spring boxes 9 and thereby retain said spring boxesand the' springs with which they cooperate in assembledvv relation `Within the recess of the carry-iron. yThe-portion 15 of; the carryiron Which isnearer the head of 'the coupler 1 provided with means extending downfwardlybelow the carry-iron affording support for a sli-dablebar 21 which projects beneath coupler andconstitutes an elementof the mechanism by which the coupler lock l is moved tonnloclredpositionysaid means preferably being fashioned as a lug 22 east integral with the movable', coupler' saddle and having an opening 23 therein through which the rear end ot the'bar 21 `bnojects. lis shownin the drawings, the opening v23 niadeojlf suitable 'torni to permit the slidable bar 21to swing upwardly to ellectan unlocleing movement o't the coupler lock ft. tatable runcoiiplingl 'rods 24 vivhich extend transversely toward v'opposite sides ol'the car and Whichara asusual, provided with suitable operating handles (not shoivn)at'- 23 which is itseli pivotally connected to ,the

under side oli ,ie coupler head by means oi' a pin Piyotally connected tothe link 28 to the rear or the pivot pin 29 and somewhat abore the pivot pin 2i'j as by 'means of a pin or rivet Y30,'isy an upwardly erftend#v ing lock lifter.l 31 haring a transversely'envtending finger or pin 32 which projects into the elongated slot 33 with which the lock/l ofthe coupleris 'provided at its lower end.

ln Fig. 6 is shown a wear plate 341C which may be employed, 'if desired, in lieu of the rollers 18 for relieving the coupler vsaddle 16 oit' the Wear resulting 'from longitudinal movements of the coupler. This. Wear plate Cil is provided. onl opposite sides with lugs 3.

which are adapted to extend into the grooves' time-enabling the rotatable uncoupling rods 24e to be properly positioned with respect to the har 2l so as effec-tively to communicate power to the' latter at all stages of its upward swing in the operation ot unlocking the coupler,l thus enabling the trainman to cause the loch t to perform an *unlocking movementand to,throw open the 1Knuckle 3 without diiiiculty.

`Then the coupler l moves lengthwise of the car the bar 2l slides correspondingly through the supporting lug 22, and as the .coupler vswings laterally the har 2l also swings therewith, changing its angular relation to the carry-iron. y Ti hen either of the uncoupling rods 2e is rotated to causes its lever arm 25 to swing-upwardly the har 2l of the lock actuating mechanism is also caused to swing in the same direction. rrlhis results ineiectinga corresponding upward rotational the linlr 28 and an upward movement of the lock li't'terl, therehy causing the lock Je to execute an unlocking` movement. 1s the har 2l is slidahly mounted in the supportinglugQQ 'it can move lengthwise ot the. carto accommodate itself to the swinging movement oi the linky 28 to which it is pivfotally attached.

I claim l. In mechanism ot' the character indicated7 the combination with a carry-iron whichis adaptedtov he mounted upon a rail way car7 ota coupler saddle supported hy said carry-iron7 said saddle being adapted to engragiethc shanl.: oi a iateraily swinging kcas -coupler and to lie-,moved thereby transversely ot the car', resilient means operetively interposed 1oetween said saddle and said Y carry-iron Ator yieldingly" resisting movement of said saddle from normal position, and means movable with said saddle and extending downwardly below said resilientmeans lor supportingl .mechanism for actuatingthe lock oit' the car coupler,

2. ln mechanism of the character indicated7 the combination with a carry-iron which is adapted to he mounted upon a railway car, of? a coupler `saddle supigiorted by said carry-ironv said saddle heinp; adapted to engage the shank ot a laterally swinging car coupler and to he moved therehytransversely of the car, and means movable with said saddle and extending downwardly helow said carry-iron for supportingly engaging mechanism. for actuating the loch of the car coupler, said means l'ieii'ig adapted to permit said lock actuating;- mechanism to slide lengthwise ot the car in response to draft and huiiing movements oit the coupler.

$3. in mechanism oit' the character indicated, the combination, with a carry-iron which is adapted to he mounted upon a rail way rar, ot mechanism tor actuatingthe loci:

of a laterally swinging car coupler, and ,means movahly connected to and extending downwardly from said carry-iron for supportingly engaging said lock actuating mechanism, said means heine; adapted to permit said vmechanism to slide with respect thereto upon diiaftt and huliing movements the c upler and being adapted to permit said .mechanism to change its angular relation to thelongitudinal axis ot the car in response to transverse swinging movements or' the coupler.

et. ln mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with a carry-iron whichis :nlapted to he mounted upon a rail way car` oi mechanism for actuating the lock of a laterally swinging car coupler, said mechanism includiimu a har which ef-:tends unde" said carry-iron and is connected to `said coupler so as to swing` laterally therewithr` and means movably connected to and extending; downwardly 'trom said carry-iron for enig-aging and slidahly supporting3;v said har, said means heine' adapted to permit said har to angle transversely ot'ithe car when the coupler swings laterally.

. 5, mechanism ot the character indicated? the combination with a carry-iron which is adapted to he mounted upon la railway can, ot mechanism t' 1' actuating the lock ot' a laterally swinging; car coupler, said mechanism including;` `a har. which extends under said carry-iron and connected to said couplerso as to swing laterally therewith` means movahly connected to and attending` downwardly 'trom said carry-iron tor engaging and slidahly supiljiortins' said han; and a rod rotatably supported hy said means and ex- "tcndinOV therefrom toward the side ot the car, said means heinel adapted to permit said har to angle transversely ot the car when i.

the coupler swings laterally, and said rod heingl' rotatahle to'eiict an unlocking moveand a rod rotatably supported by said means and engaging said bar and being rotatable "to cause'an unlocking movement of said bar.

7. In mechanism or' the character indicated, the combination with a carry-iron which is adapted to be mountedv upon a railway car and 1s provided wlth vertically spaced portions forming a horizontally opening recess, of yielding means arranged within said recess and extending transversely oft the car, a coupler saddle slidably supported on said carry-iron so as to move transversely of the car and having hori zontally spaced portions between which said carry-iron extends and by which said yielding means is retained in said recess, lsaid saddle being movable transversely by the coupler and being adapted to actuate said yielding means, and' Vmechanism slidably supported by said saddle for actuating the lock of a laterally swinging car coupler, said "mechanism including` a bar which extends under said carry-iron and is'movablewith said coupler both longitudinally and transversely oi"- .the car, and said 'saddle having a portion extending below said carry-iron and through which said bar projects.

8. In mechanism oi' the character indicated, the combination with a carry-iron which isadapted tov be mounted upon a railwaycar and is provided with vertically spaced pory tionsforming a horizontally opening recess,

vwhen displaced laterally from normal posi,-

tion to cause said spring boxes to approach each other, v'and mechanism slidably supported by'said saddlefor actuating the lock of a laterally swinging car coupler, said mechanism "including" a bar which extends under said carry-iron vand is movable with said .-ouplerboth longitudinallyand transversely. ofthe `car, and said saddle having a portion extending below said carry-iron and forming a support for'said bar.-

9. In mechanism. of the character indicated, the combination with a carry-iron i which is adapted to be mounted upon a railway car and is provided with `vertically spaced portions forming a horizontally opening recess, of a'plurality ofnrelatively movable spring boxes slidably mountedon said carry-iron within 4said recess, a plurality of springs interposed between said spring boxes and extending transversely of the car, a coupler saddle mountedvon said carry-iron to slide transversely of the car and having downwardly projecting portions between which said carry-ironextends and by which said spring-boxes are retained in` said recess,`said' saddle being adapted when displaced laterally from normal position4 to cause said spring boxes toapproach each other, mechanism slidably `supported vby said saddle'for actuating the lock of a laterally `swinging car coupler, and a rotatable uncoupling member adapted to cause annunlocking operation of said mechanism, said. mechanism including a bar which extends under said-carry-iron and is movablewith said coupler yboth `longitudin'ally `and transf, versely of the car, and said saddle'having a portion extending "below saidcarryN-iron and forming a support for said,` bar and said rotatable uncoupling member.

10.'In mechanism of the character indicated, the combination with, a ycarry-iron which is adapted to be mounted vupon a railway car, of a coupler saddle mounted upon said'carry-iron to slide transversely of the car and having upwardly extending spaced portions adapted to'receive the shank o'ffa laterally swinging couplerv vbetween them," a

transversely swinging car coupler, v andavfL lplurality ofroll'ers interposed between said saddle and said coupler, the said spaced portions of said'saddle havingverticallyextending grooves in their opposed faceswhich are adapted to receive theends of'said rollers.- l f l1. In mechanism 'of the character indiwhich is adaptedt'o be mounted upon arailway car, of a coupler lsaddle mounted upon "said carry-iron to slide transversely of the car `and having upwardly extending` arms adapted to receive the shank of anlaterally swinging coupler between them, a -'transversely swinging car coupler, and means interposed between said saddle and said cou-`l pler for protecting said saddle from wear due to longitudinal .movements of said'coupler, said arms having spaced grooves there-A iny and said meansbeing provided with cor,-

respondingly spaced portions extending into said grooves.

In testimony whereof I aflix my'signature.

ENOCH. GEORGE, JR,

cated, the combinatmn with a carry-iron 

